Mastering the Straight it hard enough with a perfect, pro honed edge...learning to hone and shave would be in the learn how to tune and play the piano by the correspondence method...snail mail version.

And I've been sharpening carbon steel tools for a long time - Straight razors seem to be as much Zen as skill, it takes some time and trial and error to teach yourself.

A pro-hone will get you jump started and a local mentor will save you time and frustration, but it is a fine motor skill that takes an investment in time. Worth it (to this crowd) but a little help can go a long way.

Good luck and smooth(er) shaving...